advanced reading copy of ADOPTING GRACE
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from a place of ignorance and fear. But as I accepted my personal limitations, I was then free to make changes and live in healthier relationships within my family. Rather than becoming defensive and hurt when my husband brings up delicate or problematic dynamics in our relationship, I am now able to hear him and talk about it. Instead of carrying anger toward my parents over things that I wish had been different, I can now see things from their perspective and enjoy the relationship that we have. I am now able to offer compassion to myself as a young inexperienced mom. Each of us was doing the best we knew to do at the time. And once I knew better, I could choose to do better. As I began addressing my need for healthier emotional expression and connections within intimate relationships, a good place to begin to relearn and practice was in the area of feelings. Very soon I was offered various opportunities to become a student in the classroom of life. “Wilson Emotions 101” was the course offered. I had a lot to learn. The ongoing invitation to understand my own emotions as well as the realization of the importance of mirroring the feelings of my children provided opportunities for this crash course. **** I was getting ready to learn how to detect both my own emotional shifts and the emotional states of my children. One day as I sat in the familiar waiting room of a family therapist, a ADOPTING GRACE ADVANCED READING COPY 102